Call Us (337) 433-1414
Call Us (337) 433-1414
Operator error, driver negligence, and poor roadway conditions are the three most common causes of motorcycle accidents. We agree that riding a motorcycle is fun, but even with the best protective gear and a helmet, there are many more fatal dangers on the road to motorcycle operators than drivers of other types of vehicles. In fact, according to the United States National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 15% of all traffic fatalities are motorcyclists.
Understanding the conditions that produce fatal motorcycle accidents can help you avoid them. Working with our Lake Charles motorcycle accident attorneys can help protect your legal interests if the worst happens and you are involved in a motorcycle collision.
All Louisiana motorcycle riders are required to have an endorsement for motorcycle operation on their regular driver’s license (it’s not a separate document). Drivers must pass a knowledge exam and a skills test on the bike. Many motorcycle operators opt to take an additional motorcycle safety class, although it’s not required.
Even with the knowledge and skills tests, operator error causes a significant number of crashes in Louisiana each year.
Reckless operation of a motorcycle, including failing to follow the speed limit, lane splitting, and road racing, cause devastating injuries. Riders who aren’t acting responsibly are rarely eligible for compensation in personal injury cases, and in some situations, they could hurt more people than just themselves.
By now, most people understand that drinking or using drugs, then operating a motor vehicle, is a dangerous choice, but each year, thousands of people cause injurious crashes by driving (or riding) under the influence.
Drugs and alcohol can slow the driver’s reaction time and cause blurry vision that makes spotting and avoiding road hazards more difficult. They can cause people to make dangerous, reckless choices that they wouldn’t make sober, including speeding, reckless driving, and performing motorcycle stunts that they’re ill-equipped to perform.
Not all motorcycle crashes are caused by the motorcyclist’s negligence or inexperience. In fact, the leading cause of motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle is driver negligence and distraction. According to the NHSTA, about 13% of all collisions in a recent year were due to distracted driving.
The slimmer profile of a motorcycle is more difficult for a driver to see, especially when it’s in the driver’s blind spot. Drivers should always check their blind spots before merging or changing lanes, lest they hit a motorcyclist. When the driver is distracted by their phone, eating or putting on make-up, or paying more attention to their GPS than the road in front of them, there’s a very good chance that they’ll cause a crash. Distracted drivers may be unable to avoid a deadly rear-end collision if the motorcycle in front of them makes a sudden stop.
In some cases, the other vehicle doesn’t even have to be turned on to cause a serious motorcycle accident. “Dooring” accidents, where someone in a parked car opens their door into the path of a motorcycle operator, can cause surprisingly bad injuries. Car doors present an immediate, heavy, and often unavoidable obstacle in the motorcyclist’s path.
Failing to yield the right-of-way, whether merging, at intersections or when entering or exiting the highway, is another primary cause of motorcycle collisions. At guided intersections, those with stop or yield signs or traffic lights, it’s important to only move when it’s your turn. Drivers who try to “beat” a yellow light or sneak in a turn in front of oncoming traffic can injure more than just themselves.
Potholes and road debris that wouldn’t faze a car or truck driver can be dangerous for a motorcyclist. Louisiana cities and parishes are responsible for maintaining the roads in their jurisdictions. If the municipality fails to keep the roads in safe condition, it can be held liable if a motorcyclist gets into a wreck.
If the bike has a design flaw or a manufacturing defect, it may be fundamentally unsafe. If the bike leaves the factory defective, you may be able to hold the manufacturer or designer liable for any harm you suffer in a wreck.
Or, perhaps, a mechanic improperly prepared the bike. The mechanic could be liable for the biker’s injuries in these cases.
Once the cause of a motorcycle crash has been identified, it’s usually fairly easy to identify the at-fault party. If you were in a wreck due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to file a claim for compensation against them.
Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident? You have the right to file a claim for compensation against the party responsible. Please call The Johnson Firm at (337) 433-1414 for a free consultation.